Thermal bottle sock and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A bottle warmer includes a flexible tubular sleeve having a closed lower end and an open upper end. The open upper end is to receive a bottle therethough, and the closed lower end is to receive a bottom of the bottle thereagainst. An elastic band is carried by a medial portion of the flexible tubular sleeve to secure the medial portion to an adjacent portion of the bottle, and permit the open upper end to be folded back adjacent the closed lower end to define a pocket. A chemical heat source element is to be received by the pocket for warming the bottle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/106,747 filed Oct. 20, 2008, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to thermal bottle holders, and moreparticularly, to a thermal bottle sock that heats a fluid within abottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bottles are frequently used to transport a fluid for later use orconsumption. While the fluid remains in the bottle, it is oftendesirable or even necessary to maintain the fluid at or near a desiredtemperature. Additionally, it may be desirable to keep the fluidinitially at one temperature and then raise the fluid to a highertemperature before use or consumption. For example, if baby milk orformula stored in a bottle is to be brought on an outing, such as apicnic, it may be desirable that the bottle be kept cool to inhibitbacteria formation and/or growth, and then warmed to a desiredtemperature prior to consumption by the baby.

Various devices have been proposed for at least partially achieving thisobjective. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,669,061 discloses an insulatedwrap for baby bottles. Such a wrap, however, only serves to passivelyresist changes in temperature. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. Nos.3,804,076, 4,838,242, and 6,234,165 disclose devices in which an activeheating effect can be produced by thermal elements. However, thesedevices require elaborate, often bulky structures and sometimes utilizepotentially toxic and/or messy thermal elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present inventionis to provide a thermal bottle sock that allows active heating of afluid within a bottle for an extended period of time while beingportable and relatively straightforward to use.

This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with thepresent invention are provided by a bottle warmer comprising a flexibletubular sleeve having a closed lower end and an open upper end, with theopen upper end to receive a bottle therethough and the closed lower endto receive a bottom of the bottle thereagainst. An elastic band may becarried by a medial portion of the flexible tubular sleeve to secure themedial portion to an adjacent portion of the bottle, and permit the openupper end to be folded back adjacent the closed lower end to define apocket. At least one chemical heat source element is to be received bythe pocket for warming the bottle.

The chemical heat source element may comprise an air activated heatsource layer. The chemical heat source element may comprise a singlechemical heat source element or a plurality of chemical heat sourceelements. For a single chemical heat source element, it may have anelongated shape for wrapping around the bottle. The chemical heat sourceelements may have opposing ends each comprising an adhesive layer foradhesively securing the chemical heat source elements to the innersleeve. The chemical heat source elements may further comprises aremovable layer on each adhesive layer to protect the adhesive layersprior to application to the inner sleeve.

The chemical heat source elements may be selectively activated whenexposed to air, and heat the fluid in the bottle to a desired range. Thefluid may be formula or breast milk, for example. The desired range maybe within 90-104 degrees, for example. Once heated, the chemical heatsource elements may maintain the temperature of the fluid within thedesired range for about 8 hours, which advantageously allows anotherbottle to be placed in the thermal bottle sock for warming after thefluid in the initial bottle has been consumed.

The flexible tubular sleeve comprises a fabric material. The fabricmaterial may comprise an elastic fabric, and may comprise anair-permeable fabric. For example, the fabric material may comprisecotton and spandex. The cotton may be within a range of 80 to 97 percentof the fabric material, and the spandex may be within a range of 3 to 20percent of the fabric material.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to an apparatus comprising abottle, and a bottle warmer as described above.

Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for heatinga fluid contained within a bottle using a bottle warmer comprising aflexible tubular sleeve as described above. The method may compriseinserting the bottle through the open upper end of the flexible tubularsleeve so that the closed lower end of the flexible tubular sleevereceives a bottom of the bottle, with the elastic band securing themedial portion of the flexible tubular sleeve to an adjacent portion ofthe bottle. The method may further comprise pulling the open upper endof the flexible tubular sleeve away from the elastic band to expose theclosed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve, and positioning atleast one chemical heat source element adjacent the closed lower end ofthe flexible tubular sleeve for warming the fluid in the bottle. Theopen upper end of the flexible tubular sleeve may then be folded overthe at least one chemical heat source element so that the open upper endis adjacent the closed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve todefine a pocket for the at least one chemical heat source element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle and thermal bottle sockaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the bottle and thermal bottlesock taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a thermal element used with the thermalbottle sock shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are schematic views of various stages of use of thebottle and thermal bottle sock shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a thermal bottle sock according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic views of various stages of use of thebottle and thermal bottle sock according to another alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method for heating a fluidcontained within a bottle using a thermal bottle sock as shown in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and double primenotations are used to indicate similar elements in alternativeembodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bottle 10 is held by a thermal bottle sock12. The thermal bottle sock 12 may also be referred to as a bottlewarmer. The thermal bottle sock 12 extends between a first end 14 and asecond end 16, and includes an inner sleeve 20 and an outer sleeve 22.The inner and outer sleeves 20, 22 are both connected to an elastic bandor collar 30, proximate to the first end of the thermal bottle sock 12.A thermal element 32 is accommodated around the bottle 10 between theinner and outer sleeves 20, 22, and serves as a warmer.

The bottle 10 has a body 40 with an open end 42. The body is at leastpartially filled with a fluid 44. The fluid 44 may be formula or breastmilk, for example, or any other type of liquid that requires a heatedtemperature to be maintained. The open end 42 is covered by a nipple 46,through which the fluid 44 is selectively dispensed. A cap 48 securesthe nipple 46 over the open end 42 of the body 40.

The inner sleeve 20 is open proximate to the first end 14 of the thermalbottle sock 12, allowing the body 40 of the bottle 10 to be accommodatedtherein. The inner sleeve 20 is closed proximate to the second end 16 ofthe thermal bottle sock 12, setting a lower limit to the insertion ofthe body 40. The outer sleeve 22 is connected to the inner sleeve 20 atthe elastic band 30, allowing the outer sleeve 22 to be folded about theelastic band 30 up and away from the inner sleeve 20.

As noted above, the thermal element 32 is accommodated around the bottle10 between the inner and outer sleeves 20, 22 and serves as the warmer.The thermal element 32 is formed from a thermal medium capable ofproducing a thermal effect for warming the fluid 44 in the bottle 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the thermal element 32 is a chemical heat sourceelement that comprises an air activated heat source layer 33. The airactivated heat source layer 33 avoids the user having to boil ormicrowave an element to be placed in the pocket for heating the fluid 44in the bottler 10. Prior to use, the thermal element 32 is stored in anairtight packaged as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

When needed, the thermal element 32 is simply removed from the airtightpackage and exposed to air, and then gradually heats the fluid 44 in thebottle 10 to within a desired range. In the illustrated embodiment, thethermal element 32 has opposing ends each comprising an adhesive layer37 for adhesively securing the thermal element 32 to the inner sleeve20. The thermal element 32 further comprises a removable layer on eachadhesive layer 37 to protect the adhesive layers prior to application tothe inner sleeve.

Although not illustrated, the thermal element 32 may be configured as athermal element sleeve that slips over the inner sleeve 20. The thermalelement sleeve comprises an elastic fabric material. Instead of usingadhesive to secure the thermal element 32 to the inner sleeve 20, theelastic fabric material holds the thermal element sleeve in place. Inthis embodiment, the thermal element sleeve may comprise one or more airactivated heat source layers 33.

The desired range that the fluid 44 is heated is typically within 90-104degrees, for example. The actual temperature will vary depending onseveral factors, such as the size of the thermal element 32, and thetype of fabric material making up the thermal bottle sock 12.

Once heated, the thermal element 32 maintains the temperature of thefluid 44 within the desired range for an extended period of time, with 8hours being typical. This advantageously allows another bottle to beplaced in the thermal bottle sock 12 for warming after the fluid in theinitial bottle 10 has been consumed. The air-activated heat pads sold byMediheat, Inc. of Dalton, GA are suitable for use as warmers. Othertypes of heat pads are also acceptable, as will be readily appreciatedby those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, in operation, the bottle 10 is inserted into thethermal bottle sock 12 such that at least a portion of the body 40extends to the second end 16 and fills the inner sleeve 20, causing theinner and outer sleeves 20, 22 to expand to accommodate the body 40.Pressure exerted due to expansion of the inner and outer sleeves 20, 22,as well as the elastic band 30, holds the thermal bottle sock 12 againstthe bottle 10.

The outer sleeve 22 is folded up and substantially away from the innersleeve 20, exposing a greater area of the inner sleeve 20. The thermalelement 32 is then located around the exposed area of the inner sleeve20, surrounding a portion of the body 40. The outer sleeve 22 is thenfolded back down to overlie the inner sleeve 20, further expanding andcovering the thermal element 32. Pressure between the expanded inner andouter sleeves 20, 22 keeps the thermal element 32 in place, such thatthe thermal element 32 warms the fluid 44 in the body 40 of the bottle10. Subsequent replacement of the bottle 10 or thermal element 32 isaccomplished by repeating the applicable steps.

Another way to describe the thermal bottle sock 12 is as a flexibletubular sleeve 20, 22 having a closed lower end 16 and an open upper end23, with the open upper end to receive the bottle 10 therethough and theclosed lower end to receive a bottom of the bottle 10 thereagainst. Anelastic band 30 is carried by a medial portion of the flexible tubularsleeve 20 to secure the medial portion to an adjacent portion of thebottle 10, and permit the open upper end 23 to be folded back adjacentthe closed lower end 16 to define a pocket. The thermal element 32 is tobe received by the pocket for warming the fluid 44 in the bottle 10.

The flexible tubular sleeve 20, 22 comprises a fabric material. In oneembodiment, the fabric material comprises cotton and spandex. Thespandex is an elastic synthetic fabric that allows the cotton tostretch, yet not too much so that the heat is allowed to escape from thepocket. The cotton may be within a range of 80 to 97 percent of thefabric material, and the spandex may be within a range of 3 to 20percent of the fabric material. The resting diameter of the elastic band30 is within a range of about 20% to 40% of the diameter of the body 40of the bottle 10. This insures that the flexible tubular sleeve 20, 22remains in place on the bottle 10.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the illustrated thermalbottle sock 12 is completely collapsible and easily stored when not inuse. The thermal bottle sock 12 also allows active maintenance of abottle 10 at a desired temperature for an extended period of time, whileenabling quick and easy insertion, removal and replacement of both thebottle 10 and the thermal element 32.

Additionally, the thermal bottle sock 12 is not limited to a particulardesign, type or size of bottle, and the term “bottle” as used hereinshould be understood to encompass any container used for the portablestorage of a fluid, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled inthe art will understand that the various elements of the thermal bottlesock 12, such as the inner and outer sleeves 20, 22, will need to beappropriately dimensioned based on the dimensions of the bottles to beaccommodated therein.

Also, the inner and outer sleeves 20, 22 can be formed of any suitablematerial. Cotton and polyester are example materials, as both possess asufficient degree of expansibility in readily available weaves, andwhich are relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. The inner andouter sleeves 20, 22 can be made from the same material or fromdifferent materials. The inner sleeve 20 may be made of athermally-conductive material and/or sufficiently thin, at least in thearea to be covered by the thermal element 32, such that thermal effectproduced by the thermal element 32 is readily transferred to the bottle10. The outer sleeve 22 may also be formed of a thermally insulativematerial, and/or sufficiently thick, to inhibit the thermal effectproduced by the thermal element 32 from being transferred to thesurrounding environment.

The inner or outer sleeve 20, 22 can also be made from a highly elasticmaterial, such as elastane, or a relatively inexpensive material, suchas a rip-stop nylon. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that otherdesign modifications can be made with, or apart from, such materialselections. For example, if the elasticity of the material used for theinner sleeve 20 is sufficiently high to ensure the inner sleeve 20 issecurely held to the bottle 10, the elastic band 30 can, for example, bedispensed with. If a relatively inflexible material is used for theouter sleeve 22, another elastic band, or a snap, zipper or the like,can be added to the outer sleeve 22 proximate to the second end 16 toensure that the thermal element 32 is secured held in place by the outersleeve 22.

Although connection of the inner and outer sleeves proximate the firstend 14 of the thermal bottle sock 12 has been found to be advantageousas facilitating folding of the outer sleeve 22 upward while keeping toinner sleeve 20 around the bottle 10, the inner and outer sleeves 20, 22may be connected at another location, such as proximate the second end16, and may be made integral with one another or even separable.

Referring to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of the thermal bottle sock12′ will now be discussed. The bottle 40′ is held by the thermal bottlesock 12′, which includes an inner sleeve 20′. A thermal element 32′,with first and second tabs 34′, 36′ at opposite ends thereof, is wrappedaround the inner sleeve 20′. The first tab 34′ is accommodated within aslit 50′ formed in the inner sleeve 20′, thereby facilitating properpositioning of the thermal element 32′ around the inner sleeve 20′ andbottle 40′.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, operation of the bottle sock 12″ and insertionof the thermal element 32″ will be discussed for the embodiment of theinner and outer sleeves 20″, 22″ being connected at the second end 16″thereof instead of at the first end 14″. As illustrated in FIG. 8, thebottle 40 is inserted into the first end 14″ of the bottle sock 12″. Theinner and outer sleeves 20″, 22″ are adjacent one another.

After the bottle 40 has been inserted, the outer sleeve 22″ is pulleddown, as best illustrated in FIG. 9. The thermal element 32″ ispositioned around the inner sleeve 20″. After the thermal element 32″has been positioned, the outer sleeve 22″ is pulled back up toward thefirst end 14″ of the bottle sock 12″. As illustrated, the outer andinner sleeves 22″, 20″ are attached together at the second end 16″ ofthe bottle sock 12″. The attachment may be such that the second end 16″of the bottle sock 12″ forms a double layer. Alternatively, the outersleeve 22″ may be attached at the second end 16″ of the bottle sock 12″such that the second end of the bottle sock forms a single layer.

The thermal element 32 may be in multiple pieces instead of the singleillustrated piece. Multiple slits or pockets may be formed in or on theinner sleeve 20 to accommodate such pieces, and other means such as hookand loop fasteners or releasable adhesives may be used to secure thethermal element 32 to the inner sleeve 20. Additionally, other thermalelements for warming or cooling are known to those skilled in the art,and are also suitable for use in connection with the current invention,in addition to the thermal elements provided by Mediheat, Inc.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for heating afluid contained within a bottle 10 using a thermal bottle sock 12 asdescribed above. Referring to the flowchart 80 in FIG. 11, the methodcomprises from the start (Block 82), inserting the bottle 10 through theopen upper end 23 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 at Block 84 so thatthe closed lower end 16 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 receives abottom of the bottle. The elastic band 30 secures the medial portion ofthe flexible tubular sleeve 12 to an adjacent portion of the bottle 10.The open upper end 23 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 is pulled awayfrom the elastic band 30 to expose the closed lower end 16 of theflexible tubular sleeve 12 at Block 86.

The method further comprises positioning at least one chemical heatsource element 32 adjacent the closed lower end 16 of the flexibletubular sleeve 12 for warming the fluid in the bottle 10 at Block 88.The open upper end 23 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 is folded overthe at least one chemical heat source element 32 at Block 90 so that theopen upper end 23 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 is adjacent theclosed lower end 16 of the flexible tubular sleeve 12 to define a pocketfor the at least one chemical heat source element. The method ends atBlock 92.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modificationsand embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A method for heating a fluid contained within a bottle using a bottlewarmer comprising a flexible tubular sleeve having a closed lower endand an open upper end, and an elastic band carried by a medial portionof the flexible tubular sleeve, the method comprising: inserting thebottle through the open upper end of the flexible tubular sleeve so thatthe closed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve receives a bottom ofthe bottle, with the elastic band securing the medial portion of theflexible tubular sleeve to an adjacent portion of the bottle; pullingthe open upper end of the flexible tubular sleeve away from the elasticband to expose the closed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve;positioning at least one chemical heat source element adjacent theclosed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve for warming the fluid inthe bottle; and folding the open upper end of the flexible tubularsleeve over the at least one chemical heat source so that the open upperend is adjacent the closed lower end to define a pocket for the at leastone chemical heat source.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein theat least one chemical heat source element comprises an air activatedheat source layer.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the atleast one chemical heat source element comprises a single chemical heatsource element having an elongated shape for wrapping around the bottle.4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the single chemical heatsource element has opposing ends each comprising an adhesive layer foradhesively securing the single chemical heat source element adjacent theclosed lower end of the flexible tubular sleeve.
 5. The method accordingto claim 4 wherein the single chemical heat source element furthercomprises a removable layer on each adhesive layer to protect theadhesive layers prior to application to adjacent the closed lower end ofthe flexible tubular sleeve.
 6. The method according to claim 1 whereinthe flexible tubular sleeve comprises an elastic fabric.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6 wherein the elastic fabric comprises anair-permeable fabric.
 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein theelastic fabric material comprises cotton and spandex.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8 wherein the cotton is within a range of 80 to 97percent of the fabric material, and wherein the spandex is within arange of 3 to 20 percent of the fabric material.